Korea

Korea is a formerly unified nation, and a geographic area currently composed of two sovereign states located on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It borders China to the northwest, and Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait. Seoul is Korea's capital city.

Korea has four distinct seasons. The summers are very hot and humid, and the winters are cold and dry. The springs and autumns, which finish much too quickly, provide a welcome relief from the extremes of summer and winter. The rainy season (changma) starts in late July and lasts through mid-August and often causes flooding of low areas. Don't go anywhere without an umbrella during this time!

Although most people prefer Western clothes like suits and jeans, the national costume, hanbok, is worn by many during national holidays. Traditionally, people wore white clothes, reserving colors for the upper class or during festive occassions.

In Korean culture, education is the key to success in life. The school one graduates from can determine whether one will be a success or failure. The Korean education system consists of six years of primary school, three years of middle school, then three years of high school. Those who pass the national exam go on to 4-year colleges or universities.

Rice is the staple of the Korean diet and appears at almost all meals. A typical meal includes rice, some type of soup, sometimes a main dish of meat or pork or poultry, and various side dishes.

Most of the larger rivers and forests are located in the west. The coastline is dotted with bays and it has some of the highest tides in the world. The eastern coastline has many sandy beaches, while the western side consists mainly of mud flats and rocky shores. Korea has been influenced by four major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Shamanism.

A number of areas in Korea are designated as National Parks. The parks cover a variety of regions: mountains, forests, lakes and islands. Korean official language is English is taught in schools. Significant numbers of Koreans are Christians and Buddhists. Confucianism has been an important influence on Korean culture, especially in the respect it requires for the ancestors and the family.

Jeonju is a city in and the capital of North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is situated about two and a half hours south of Seoul and is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities and innovative festivals. Koreans have a dynamic nature and have shown a great love for music and dance throughout history. Pusan South Korea is a lively city, located on the Southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. The city has a fantastic city which includes a coastline with superb beaches and scenic cliffs. Taegu is known as the home of Korean baseball, it even hosted the 2002 World Cup soccer game. The Taejon city Korea is a place of modern culture supported by beautiful weather. Ulsan South Korea has industrial units of light, medium, and heavy industrial complexes on the outskirts of the city. Kumi city Korea is a city of culture and with the efforts of all its citizens make it a better place to live. There are many festivals celebrated throughout the year in Masan Korea, including a theatre festival, art festival, and photography festival which is a big draw for the visitors.